Author Topic: 4LED + 1 lights  (Read 10526 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Norm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
  • Karma: +26/-0
  • Today is the day you worried about yesterday.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #15 on: May 05, 2012, 05:20:34 pm »
Like the switch arrangement you propose.
I think 56 ohm is a standard size. You could parallel two of the 56 ohm to cut the resistance in half, I think or series them to make the 112 ohm. It's been awhile since I have played with resistors so I could have that backwards.
I have been thinking about charging with solar cells since you started.
Also I thought about a dollar store three cell flashlight, C or D size to hold the batteries or a homemade pvc battery holder with junk flashlight parts.
Keep it up Norm, I check your progress everyday.



1060-0

No need for flashlight for batteries.....shrinkplastic that I salvaged from Bruce's
NiCad paks.....just cut to fit with and overlapping seam.....wrap around batteries
some rubber bands to hold temporarily whilegluing with instant glue.
Then just a little bit of heat to shrink on the ends ....put the whole works in
a wooden box with light attached spring on one end and silverplated thumbtack on other
end.

Need some shrink plastic I can send you some for 3 or 4 batteries if you don't
have any?
Got the 56 ohm resistors from Ghurd and they work just about right....not too
bright nor too dim.

Great fun in NE Ohio  on just pennys   ....er couple dollars a day. ;D

Offline tomw

  • Not as bad as you might think
  • Senior Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 739
  • Karma: +35/-0
  • hoplophobic people will fear my lifestyle
    • Zubbly's photos!
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #16 on: May 05, 2012, 05:39:47 pm »
Norm;

Are you saying those yellow wraps around those 18 volt packs is reused for shrink covering on those cells?


Thanks.

Tom
Do NOT mistake me for any kind of "expert".

( ?° ?? ?°)


24 Trina 310 watt modules, SMA SunnyBoy 7.7 KW Grid Tie inverter.

I thought that they were angels, but much to my surprise, We climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies

Offline Norm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
  • Karma: +26/-0
  • Today is the day you worried about yesterday.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #17 on: May 12, 2012, 08:24:02 am »
Norm;

Are you saying those yellow wraps around those 18 volt packs is reused for shrink covering on those cells?


Thanks.

Tom
Yes Tom, That's what I'm saying (which makes me think how many of these wraps
were carelessly thrown away many ....including me)
Sorry about not answering this sooner....Yikes ...almost a week been busy with
some real yard cleaning over at my daughter's place.
.....and on this project....the biggest point about using these  'D' alkaline batteries
is that they replace the $little, $$$little AAA batteries even if you couldn't recharge
the D batteries.
.....and furthermore I've tried the recharging bit and discovered that you really have
to concentrate on this...from 1.7 volts each once it gets down to about 1.3 ....it's too
much and it just don't seem worth the effort....at least when you're pedal charging,
(unless you are more interested in keeping in shape than charging batteries).

(back to the yellow wrap reuse bit )
I used to take the 18 volt paks and carefully cut a nice straight cut
to unwrap these paks so I could reuse them.

Then I figured out how I could cut the top and bottom off and slip
the ends off like caps about an inch from the end.
Taking the middle section with the batteries still inside the tube....
I put it in the freezer....(outside in a snowbank in the winter, because
Barb didn't like those things in Her   refrigerator !   :o )
, for about an hour.. then wack it across the edge of (Barb's ) kitchen
counter.....(man....these people just don't seem to get a grasp on what is
really important !) anyways once the less bonded glue seperates from the
stack of cylinders... it falls out of the sleeve and I rearranged the cells
so they were all in the same direction....put them back in the sleeve...
and they kind of wedge  back in line...reglue them together where they
stick out beyond the ends of the sleeve parallel the terminals on each
end and I had a 6 volt ...3.9 amp/hr battery....slip the caps that I had
cut off... and you could hardly tell the difference between it and the original.
1152-0
So here are 4 of them with each having a 56 ohm resistor.....
each unit  will last a lot longer probably.....than the 36 AAA
batteries that it replaces (12000 mA. (D)....1000mA. (AAA)).
  So that's about a $1 for the 3 D batteries plus the time putting it together
....against  about $9 worth of AAA batteries.
   It's difficult to convey the enthusiasm I have for the conservation
potential this project.
Norm.





























Offline bj

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 735
  • Karma: +23/-0
  • Lamont, Alberta, Canada
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #18 on: May 12, 2012, 08:37:15 pm »
  If you think your wife doesn't understand that stuff in her freezer Norm, try a disassembled Briggs in the
dishwasher. :o
  Just one of life's little lessons I learned once.  Just once.
"Even a blind squirrel will find an acorn once in a while"
bj

Offline Norm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
  • Karma: +26/-0
  • Today is the day you worried about yesterday.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #19 on: May 12, 2012, 11:02:56 pm »
 You know of course you have to presoak the parts
in kerosene before you wash them in the dishwasher. ;D
Norm.
 

Offline ghurd

  • Global Moderator
  • Sr. Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 442
  • Karma: +22/-0
    • GHurd Solar
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #20 on: May 13, 2012, 09:44:21 am »
You know of course you have to presoak the parts
in kerosene before you wash them in the dishwasher. ;D
Norm.

If you have a gas stove, with a pilot light...
Probably want to move the bucket of kerosene
from the kitchen to the living room.

Remember- Safety First!
G-

Offline Norm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
  • Karma: +26/-0
  • Today is the day you worried about yesterday.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #21 on: May 18, 2012, 08:02:57 am »
Well I'm happy to report that the 4LED + 1 light works real
good..with the 3 Dsize batteries....something that even a beginner would enjoy assembling,
not too difficult, with the 56 ohm resistor they (3 sets) have been
lasting for days and days. for a couple of bucks they seem to be a bargain....
quite superior to one of those little solar lights that seemed to be such a
bargain at 3-$5 each with less light than a birthday candle !

As I've said before the alkaline batteries don't seem to be worth making a great
effort to recharge ...but if one were to have a small solar panel with just
a few solar cells might be worthwhile to keep putting some of the juice back
 into the alkaline cells what was taken out the night before...

So anyone out there that is interested....try it...with alkaline cells
 sure does last a lot longer than those AAA alkaline batteries.
think you will enjoy it.
Norm.


Offline ghurd

  • Global Moderator
  • Sr. Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 442
  • Karma: +22/-0
    • GHurd Solar
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #22 on: May 20, 2012, 08:28:37 am »
Norm,
Keep an eye out for BIG rejected camping lights with
fluorescent bulbs.
The bigger the better.
Some use 8 D batteries (12V).
Can get some serious hours with 3 LEDs in series.
Naturally, LEDs instead of the fluorescent bulb.

With the camping season getting ready to start,
people will be disposing of those battery eaters.
(that means watch the curbs on garbage day)  ;)
G-

Offline kensue49

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
  • Karma: +4/-0
  • I would have heard that if my battery was good.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #23 on: May 20, 2012, 08:46:26 pm »
Norm,
Where did you get your lights.
I have two that were given to me and I would like a few more.
I have an idea along the lines that Ghurd.
I have one of those battery eaters already.
Kenneth

Offline kensue49

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
  • Karma: +4/-0
  • I would have heard that if my battery was good.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #24 on: May 20, 2012, 09:22:31 pm »
Went back and read the first post, duh!
Dollar Tree.
Kenneth

Offline Norm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
  • Karma: +26/-0
  • Today is the day you worried about yesterday.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #25 on: May 20, 2012, 10:38:42 pm »
Ken .....Yep that's right...DollarTree....they just work so great
with the 3 D size alkaline and turning on the 4 LEDs thru the
56 ohm resistor in series....on at bedtime and off when we get
up in the morning almost a month now....will switch to c size
NiCads when they ever get dim....
Norm.

Offline Norm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
  • Karma: +26/-0
  • Today is the day you worried about yesterday.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #26 on: October 12, 2012, 06:58:23 am »
I've tried a couple of these lights lately with the rechargable
c size NiCads hooked up the same way as alkaline D batteries....
http://www.anotherpower.com/board/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=476.0;attach=1027;image
and now all I would need is someone to sell me some mini
solar panels adequate to recharge one of these in the daytime?
Norm

Offline frackers

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 239
  • Karma: +9/-0
  • If it moves - computerise it!
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #27 on: October 12, 2012, 07:15:12 pm »
Hi Norm

Have you looked at using something like one of these LED drivers rather than a resistor? Most of the drivers use a standard circuit that allows you to set the current in the LEDs by changing one resistor.

http://dx.com/s/led+driver

I've had a few things from DealExtreme and with free post for a lot of things you really can't go wrong for the money, even if it turns out to be a paper weight (something that has yet to happen to me!!).

I guess that the 'head lights' that cyclists use have a similar driver and may end up in the junk pile occasionally.

Robin Down Under (or are you Up Over!)

Offline Norm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
  • Karma: +26/-0
  • Today is the day you worried about yesterday.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #28 on: October 12, 2012, 11:44:40 pm »
I think this was the biggest /best thing about when I first
tried using alkaline....as I guess the internal resistance
limits the current but they do wear out.
So with NiCad, which I have switched over to recently they
seem to work pretty good even without a resistor I sure
would be thinking about using a driver except I really don't
know where to start ....these NiCads start out at like 4volts
when Fully charged and 1.3 amp/hrs. after about 6hrs down to
3.6.... I think.....I'll have to quit for now bed time and time to turn
'em on....I'll check the voltage on one now and about 6 hrs from now.
Thanks for the help so far frackers
Norm.
Oh BTW not too many cyclist in our area that
travel at night and if they did they just use the street lights....
can you believe that around here at night there are some
cyclist and pedestrians at night wear dark clothing....they seem
to have complete disregard for motorists inability to see them
that's why I dislike driving at night ....couple of times swerved
barely avoided hitting them.



 

Offline Norm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
  • Karma: +26/-0
  • Today is the day you worried about yesterday.
Re: 4LED + 1 lights
« Reply #29 on: October 15, 2012, 06:32:37 am »
I think what will be my next project in regards to this
will be to take a clipboard where I can place all these lights
at once and they'll be connected and ready to get charged.

show you guys a pic when I get done today.
Norm :)